Interview with Jodi Benson, Samuel E. Wright, and Ron Clements!

Earlier today, The Walt Disney Studios and the Film Society of Lincoln Center celebrated The Little Mermaid’s In-Home Diamond Edition release with an exclusive screening of the film. Joining the screening were various celebrities to see the Little Mermaid in its original form as it had debuted 24 years ago in 1989.

I was very fortunate enough to be given some time with Jodi Benson, Ron Clements, and Samuel Wright to interview them. We spoke about various topics including Ron Clements’ future projects with Disney, Aladdin: the Musical, and more!

This is the part where I’ll do less talking and let the video speak for itself.

I loved every single person I interviewed, and it was great seeing the amazing personalities behind the voices (and creator!). Ron Clements certainly got me excited with details about Aladdin on Broadway with the resurrection of the song “Proud of Your Boy” from the lost Disney files.

Oh, and let’s not forget the shameless request with Jodi Benson for a photo.

After all the interviews, we all took our seats in the theater to watch the Little Mermaid. No gimmicks in this showing. No Second Screen Live. No 3D. Sharing that experience with Jodi Benson and Samuel Wright as they had originally seen it back when the film first premiered was amazing. My friend turned to me jokingly, “We’re currently breathing the same air as Jodi Benson as we watch the Little Mermaid.”

When the credits finished rolling out, Jodi Benson came out on stage to surprise us with a live performance of “Part of Your World.” We were the first row of people to watch her perform, and I may have melted in my seat when she stared at me as she sang a part of the song. If you need some visual aid, just take a look at my interview with Glen Keane. I’m pretty sure my reaction there is the same.

So that was basically my day in a nutshell. They completed our experience by giving us the Diamond Edition Blu-ray more than a week before its release, and now I can go to sleep happily as I watch my Digital Copy of the Little Mermaid. It comes out October 1! Have you preordered it yet?